Tennessee baseball adds pitcher Ricky Ojeda, UC Irvine transfer

Tennessee baseball received a commitment from UC Irvine pitcher Ricky Ojeda on June 19.

Ojeda, who is eligible for the MLB draft in July, announced his decision on social media. He visited Tennessee on June 15-16.

The lefthanded Ojeda had a strong 2026 season primarily as a reliever, posting a 3.77 ERA with 62 strikeouts and 20 walks in 62 innings. In 2025, he became the first reliever to be named Big West Pitcher of the Year after going 13-1 with a 3.55 ERA and 83 strikeouts in 66 innings, which also earned him a third-team all-American nod from the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association and Perfect Game.

Whether Ojeda makes it to Tennessee remains an open question. Perfect Game ranked him as the No. 179 prospect for the draft. That would place him in the sixth round.

Should Ojeda join the staff, however, he would instantly become one of the team’s top options out of a bullpen that struggled immensely in 2026. The pitching staff is also under new leadership under pitching coach Austin Knight, who was hired from ECU.

Ojeda is the fourth player to announce they will transfer to Tennessee this offseason, joining two-way Mercer transfer Braydon Kersey, Northwestern State pitcher Brody Trosclair and Air Force infielder Wyatt Hanoian.

Who’s leaving Tennessee baseball

• UTL Jay Abernathy (Oklahoma)
• RHP Nic Abraham
• INF Ariel Antigua (Arizona)
• INF Finley Bates
• RHP Ari Bethea
• OF Hutson Chance
• RHP Sawyer Deering (San Diego State)
• OF Nate Eisfelder
• 1B Evan Hankins (Virginia Tech)
• UTL Hunter High
• RHP Brayden Krenzel (Arkansas)
• INF Manny Marin
• INF Ethan Moore (Missouri)
• UTL Chris Newstrom
• LHP Taylor Tracey
• C Cash Williams (West Virginia)

Who’s joining Tennessee baseball

• RHP/DH Braydon Kersey
• LHP Brody Trosclair
• INF Wyatt Hanoian
• LHP Ricky Ojeda

Emmett Siegel covers Tennessee baseball for Knox News. Email: emmett.siegel@knoxnews.com; X: @EmmettSiegel_